Interference management in a multi-hop wireless network

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, an interference-management system of a multi-hop wireless network may access an interference map indicating interference among network nodes, each network node comprising sectors that each comprise an array of beamforming antennae. The interference-management system may identify links between network nodes, each link being associated with a transmitting (TX) beamforming weight variable and a receiving (RX) beamforming weight variable. The interference-management system may generate a factor-graph representation of the multi-hop wireless network comprising a first set of vertices corresponding to a second set of vertices, each vertex pair being associated with an identified link, wherein each vertex pair comprises a variable node and a function node, and wherein messages passed between the nodes of a first vertex pair are derived at least in part based on messages previously passed between the nodes of one or more vertex pairs.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/392,910, filed 28 Dec. 2016, which claims thebenefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/274,154, filed 31 Dec. 2015, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to wireless communication networks.

BACKGROUND

A multi-hop wireless network may facilitate the communication of datawhere wired communication is unavailable, impractical, or impossible.For example, a multi-hop wireless network may serve as a wirelessbackhaul network connecting a core or backbone network to one or morecustomer networks. A customer network may include customer equipment(CE)—such as Wi-Fi access points (APs), cellular base stations (such asfemtocells), and related equipment or other CE—providing wireless orwired connectivity to one or more client devices. A client device may bea desktop or laptop computer, tablet, mobile telephone, appliance, orother client device.

A multi-hop wireless network may include multiple wirelesslyinterconnected network nodes. A wireless connection between two networknodes may be a hop, and data may be communicated wirelessly through thenetwork from one edge to another along one or more network pathstraversing series of network nodes and hops. All or some of the networknodes may be at fixed locations. For example, all or some of the networknodes may be affixed to street lamps, utility poles, other streetfurniture, or building exteriors. All or some of the network nodes mayact as distribution nodes (DNs) or customer nodes (CNs). A DN maywirelessly communicate with CNs or other DNs to relay data through thenetwork. One or more DNs may also communicate with one or more edgedevices of a core or backbone network to connect the multi-hop wirelessnetwork to the core or backbone network. A CN may communicate with DNsand CEs to connect a customer network to the multi-hop wireless network.

SUMMARY OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

Particular embodiments provide an interference-management system toreduce overall interference in a multi-hop wireless network. Currently,beamforming acquisition in a multi-hop network typically selects thebest micro-routes and nano-routes to maximize individual link capacity,without regard to the interference effects those routes will have onneighboring nodes. Such a “greedy” approach is simple, but less thanoptimal for overall network performance. In particular embodiments, toaddress this problem, interference among nodes is measured and mappedafter ignition of the network and the mapping is used to (1) adjustbeamforming weights to reduce interference with neighboring nodes (evenif the resulting directions of the beams reduce the capacities ofindividual links); (2) identify and exclude micro-routes that causeexcessive interference; or (3) determine a time-division multiplexing(TDM) scheme for the network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example multi-hop wireless network.

FIG. 2 illustrates example micro-routes and nano-routes between networknodes.

FIG. 3 illustrates example transmission (TX) and reception (RX)beamforming weights on TX and RX network nodes.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top-down perspective of an example multi-hopwireless network and an example corresponding bipartite-graphrepresentation.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top-down perspective of an example multi-hopwireless network and an example corresponding factor-graphrepresentation.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example method for interference management in amulti-hop wireless network.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example computer system.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example multi-hop wireless network 100. In theexample of FIG. 1, multi-hop wireless network 100 connects CE 110 atcustomer premises (such as residences or places of businesses) to a coreor backbone network 120 (which may include one or more portions of theInternet). Network 120 connects multi-hop wireless network 100 to one ormore server systems 130. Network 120 may also connect central controller140 to multi-hop wireless network 100. In addition or as an alternative,central controller 140 may where appropriate connect to one or morenetwork nodes of multi-hop wireless network 100 directly, for example,through out-of-band signaling by 2G, 3G, or 4G mobiletelecommunications. Communication between central controller 140 and anetwork node of multi-hop through network 120 may be referred to asin-band. Links 150 may connect multi-hop wireless network 100, serversystems 130, and central controller 140 to network 110. This disclosurecontemplates any suitable links 150 for these connections. For example,one or more links 150 may include one or more wireline (such as forexample Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or Data Over Cable ServiceInterface Specification (DOCSIS)), wireless (such as for example Wi-Fior Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), or optical(such as for example Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) or SynchronousDigital Hierarchy (SDH)) links, where appropriate. In particularembodiments, one or more links 150 may each include an ad hoc network,an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local areanetwork (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), awireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of theInternet, a portion of the PSTN, a 2G, 3G, or 4Gmobile-telecommunications network, a satellite communications network,another link 150, or a combination of two or more such links 150, whereappropriate. Links 150 are not necessarily the same throughout thenetwork environment of FIG. 1. One link 150 may differ from another inone or more respects. Although the example of FIG. 1 is described andillustrated with a particular network environment including a particularnumber of particular systems and components arranged in a particularmanner, this disclosure contemplates any suitable network environmentincluding any suitable number of any suitable systems and componentsarranged in any suitable manner. For example, two or more of multi-hopwireless network 100, server systems 130, or central controller 140 maybe connected to each other directly, bypassing network 120. As anotherexample, two or more of multi-hop wireless network 100, server systems130, or central controller 140 may be physically or logically co-locatedwith each other in whole or in part.

A server system 130 may provide services (such as web services) toclient and other devices and systems. For example, a server system 130may include one or more web servers, news servers, mail servers, messageservers, advertising servers, file servers, application servers,exchange servers, database servers, proxy servers, other suitableservers, or a suitable combination thereof. A server system 130 mayinclude hardware, software, or embedded logic components or acombination of two or more such components for carrying out thefunctions implemented or supported by server system 130. In addition, aserver system 130 may include one or more servers and be a unitaryserver system or a distributed server system spanning multiple computersystems or multiple datacenters. Although this disclosure describes andillustrates particular server systems, this disclosure contemplates anysuitable server systems.

Central controller 140 may act as a central controller for multi-hopwireless network 100, which may include coordinating ignition of DNs 160and CNs 170, as described below. Central controller 140 may includehardware, software, or embedded logic components or a combination of twoor more such components for carrying out its functions. In addition,central controller 140 may include one or more servers and be a unitarycomputer system or a distributed computer system spanning multiplecomputer systems or multiple datacenters. Central controller 140 may beconnected to multi-hop wireless network 100 by network 120. In additionor as an alternative, central controller 140 may where appropriateconnect to one or more network nodes of multi-hop wireless network 100directly, for example, through out-of-band signaling by 2G, 3G, or 4Gmobile telecommunications. Communication between central controller 140and a network node of multi-hop through network 120 may be referred toas in-band. Although this disclosure describes and illustrates aparticular central controller 140, this disclosure contemplates anysuitable central controller 140.

In the example of FIG. 1, multi-hop wireless network 100 includesmultiple DNs 160 and CNs 170. A DN 160 wirelessly communicates with oneor more CNs 170 or one or more other DNs 160 to relay data throughmulti-hop wireless network 100. DN 160A also communicates through a link150 with one or more edge devices of network 120 to connect multi-hopwireless network 100 to network 120, providing a point-of-presence (PoP)for multi-hop wireless network 100 on network 120. A CN 170 communicateswith one or more DNs 160 and CE 110 to connect a customer network to themulti-hop wireless network. One or more wireline or other suitable linksmay connect a CN 170 to CE 110. A CE 100 may be part of a customernetwork located for example at a customer premises and may include oneor more Wi-Fi APs, cellular base stations (such as femtocells), andrelated equipment or other CEs providing wireless or wired connectivityto one or more client devices. A client device may be an electronicdevice including hardware, software, or embedded logic components or acombination of two or more such components designed to carry outparticular functions implemented or supported by the client device. Forexample, a client device may be a desktop or laptop computer, tablet,e-book reader, GPS device, camera, mobile telephone, appliance,augmented-reality or virtual-reality device, another suitable clientdevice, or a suitable combination thereof. This disclosure contemplatesany suitable client devices.

As described above, multi-hop wireless network 100 includes multiple DNs160 and CNs 170. Wireless communication in multi-hop wireless network100 may be point-to-point, and DNs 160 and CNs 170 may communicatewirelessly with each other in one or more frequency bands at or around60 GHz. A DN 160 or CN 170 may have a maximum range of approximately 1.5kilometers, but may typically communicate with other DNs 160 or CNswithin approximately 200-300 meters. All or some of DNs 160 and CNs 170the network nodes may be at fixed locations. For example, all or some ofDNs 160 and CNs 170 may be affixed to street lamps, utility poles, otherstreet furniture, or building exteriors.

A network node of multi-hop wireless network 100 may include one or moreantenna arrays that are each capable of beamforming to direct signaltransmission or reception by network node. A single antenna arraycapable of beamforming may be referred to as a sector. If a network nodehas multiple sectors, they will likely face different directions. Forexample, a network node affixed to a street pole could have fourseparate antenna arrays on it, with one facing north, one facing east,one facing south, and one facing west. To aim a sector for transmissionor reception, the beamforming weight of the antenna array constitutingthe sector may be adjusted. A micro-route is a gross reflection or lineof site between two sectors. A nano-route is a fine reflection or lineof site between two sectors. Typically, a micro-route between twosectors has several possible nano-routes. Some of those nano-routes willprovide better link capacity between the two sectors, and some of thosenano-routes will interfere more with neighboring nodes. In the exampleof FIG. 1, the directions of the sectors of DNs 160 and CNs 170 fortransmission and reception are shown as lobes with dashed lines. Each ofthese lobes represents a sector's main lobe (e.g. the direction of thegreatest transmission power or reception sensitivity). A sector may alsohave side lobes and nulls, which are not shown in FIG. 1. In the exampleof FIG. 1, DN 160A has sectors aimed at DN 160B, DN 160D, and DN 160G;DN 160B has sectors aimed at DN 160A, DN 160C, and CN 170A; DN 160C hassectors aimed at DN 160B, DN 160D, and CN 170B; DN 160D has sectorsaimed at DN 160A, DN 160C, DN 160E, and CN 170C; DN 160E has sectorsaimed at DN 160D, DN 160F, DN 160G, and CN 170D; DN 160F has sectorsaimed at DN 160E and DN 160G; DN 160G has sectors aimed at DN 160A, DN160E, and DN 160F; CN 170A has a sector aimed at DN 160B; CN 170B has asector aimed at DN 160C; CN 170C has a sector aimed at DN 160D; and CN170D has a sector aimed at DN 160E. As described below, the sectors ofDNs 160 and CNs 170 may be dynamically re-directed by changing thebeamforming weights of the respective antenna arrays. Moreover, asfurther described below, the sectors of particular DNs 160 and CNs 170may be dynamically re-directed in response to particular events.Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particular examplemulti-hop wireless network with a particular number of particularnetwork nodes in a particular arrangement with particular numbers ofparticular beamforming antenna arrays aimed in particular directions,this disclosure contemplates any suitable multi-hop wireless networkwith any suitable number of any suitable network nodes in any suitablearrangement with any suitable numbers of any suitable beamformingantenna arrays aimed in any suitable directions.

To improve communication paths between network nodes, to reduceinterference, and to increase the throughput of the network, DNs 16 andCNs 170 may include multiple antennas composing one or more antennaarrays that may be used to control the transmit and receive directionsof the node by employing beamforming techniques, as described above.Beamforming may be used to point an antenna array at a target to reduceinterference and improve communication quality. In beamforming, both theamplitude and phase of each antenna may be controlled. Combinedamplitude and phase control may be used to adjust the transmit andreceive signals on network nodes. As will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art of radio frequency communications, the radiofrequency signals transmitted by each of the antennas or antenna arrayscan be selectively timed by beamforming techniques to direct the mainlobe (which can comprise the bulk of the transmitted signal power) in adesired direction. Similarly, signals received by the antennas can bedelayed and summed using beamforming techniques to change the effectivelistening direction of the receiver. In the example of FIG. 1, networknodes can beamform their transmit and receive signals in severaldifferent directions, as well as other directions. Beamform traininginvolves a transmitting network node and a receiving network node. Thetransmitting network node transmits training packets in each of a numberof possible transmitting directions and the receiving network nodelistens to determine the transmission direction with which it can bestdetect the transmitted packets.

The current methods of beamforming acquisition and training areperformed in a greedy manner (e.g. each transmitter and receiver may beconfigured to maximize its own signal strength without regard for theinterference effects their signal has on neighboring network nodes).Because all the network nodes in the multi-hop wireless network operateon the same frequency band (e.g. 60 GHz), signals from some networknodes may interfere with signals from neighboring network nodes. Inadjusting their beamforming weights to maximize their own signalstrengths, at least some network nodes may select a beamform weight thatis sub-optimal for the multi-hop wireless network as a whole, despitethe selection of beamform weights maximizing the individual signalstrength between two network nodes. A particular beamform weight may besub-optimal if it interferes excessively with the signals of othernetwork nodes. Therefore, it may be desirable to reduce the interferenceover the entire multi-hop network by making adjustments to the operationof at least some of the network nodes. Such adjustments may reduce thesignal strength between of a particular link, but the adjustments mayalso improve the coverage and transmission speed of the multi-hopwireless network as a whole.

As an example and not by way of limitation, to reduce the overallinterference on the network, a particular network node pair may bedirected to select a communication path other than the bestcommunication path between themselves. Therefore, the network node pairmay not select the best transmit and receive beamforming directions forthemselves. Instead, the network node pair may select the second- orthird-best transmit and receive beamforming directions because one ofthose beamform pairs may have been determined to be better for thenetwork as a whole.

FIG. 2 illustrates example micro-routes and nano-routes between networknodes. Depicted are two possible micro-routes 210 and 220 betweennetwork nodes 201 and 202. Each micro-route on the side of thetransmitter network node 201 has four nano-routes 211 and 221. Eachmicro-route on the side of the receiving network node 202 has fournano-routes 212 and 222. Nano routes 211, 221, 212, and 222 representexample alternate signal paths the micro-routes 210 and 220 may takefrom network node 201 to network node 202. By adjusting beamformingweights, the network nodes 201 and 202 may be able to select particularmicro-routes and nano-routes for data transmission and reception.Depending on the micro-route and nano-route(s) selected, interferencewith other network nodes might be greater or smaller. Also depending onthe micro-route and nano-route(s) selected, link capacity betweennetwork nodes 201 and 202 might be greater or smaller. It may be a goalof the interference management system to determine the properbeamforming weights and thus the selection of micro-routes andnano-routes to reduce interference on the multi-hop wireless networkwhile simultaneously maintaining a relatively strong link capacitybetween individual pairs of network nodes.

FIG. 3 illustrates example TX and RX beamforming weights on TX and RXnetwork nodes. Each network node 130 may include one or more sectors310. Each sector 310 may include an array of beamforming antennas. As anexample and not by way of limitation, a street pole may have fourseparate antenna arrays on it, each antenna array facing a differentdirection (e.g. north, south, east, west). In this scenario, the nodemay be the street pole, and each of the antenna arrays may be a sector310. To improve the communication path between the network nodes 130,and to increase network throughput, at least some of the network nodes130 may include a transceiver and an antenna array on a sector. Theantenna array may include one or more beamforming antennas that may beused to direct the transmit and receive signals of the sector by aprocess known as beamforming. A processor in a network node 130 mayinstruct a beamformer in the network node to selectively weight anddelay the signals transmitted by each of the directional antennas inorder to direct the main lobe 340 (e.g. the bulk of the transmittedsignal power) in a desired direction. Similarly, signals received by theone or more directional antennas may be weighted, delayed and summedusing beamforming techniques to change the effective listening directionof the receiver. The directional antennas included in a sector 310 maybe directed at any angle up to 180 degrees. In addition to main lobe340, sectors 310 may also produce sub-nodes 350 which may createinterference signals 360. It may be desirable to reduce the effect thatinterference signals 360 have on the transmission speed and coverage ofthe multi-hop wireless network.

Beamforming optimization involves at least some pairs of network nodesbeing directed to select a communication path other than the bestcommunication path. Therefore, the network node pair may not select thebest transmit and receive beamforming directions for themselves.Instead, the network node pair may select the second- or third-besttransmit and receive beamforming directions because one of thosebeamform pairs may have been determined to be better for the network asa whole. To implement the solutions discussed above, the network can berepresented as a bipartite graph, with transmitting (TX) sectors in oneset and receiving (RX) sectors in the other set. An example of such abipartite graph representation is illustrated in FIG. 4, illustrates atop-down perspective of an example multi-hop wireless network 140 and anexample corresponding bipartite-graph representation 420. An instance ofa TX or RX sector is represented as a node in graph 420, and connectionsbetween sectors are represented by edges. A connection may be a desiredlink or interference. A desired link may be visually represented in thegraph as a solid line 430, and interference may be visually representedas a dashed line 440. An instance of a TX sector in the graph may bereferred to as a TX node. The TX nodes are represented in a first set421. An instance of an RX sector in the graph 420 may be referred to asan RX node. The RX nodes are represented in a second set 422.

In many instances, network nodes include multiple sectors. FIG. 5illustrates an example bipartite-graph representation 520 of an examplemulti-hop network 510 at the sector level. Pictured in the multi-hopnetwork 510 are several distribution nodes 511 connected to multiplecustomer nodes 512. The customer nodes 512 are attached to a building.The bipartite-graph representation includes an instance of each TXsector 513 for every RX sector 514 that the TX sector 513 transmits to,with each TX sector 513 potentially having multiple instances of a TXnode 521 in the bipartite-graph representation 520 (e.g. beingrepresented by multiple TX nodes 521 in the graph). If a TX sector 513transmits to multiple RX sectors 514, then the bipartite-graphrepresentation 520 will include multiple TX nodes 521 representing theTX sector 513. Multiple instances of the same TX sector 513 in thebipartite-graph representation 520 may be referred to as a “TX TDMclique.” Similarly, the graph includes an instance of each RX sector 514for every TX sector 513 that the RX sector 514 receives transmissionsfrom, with each RX sector 514 potentially having multiple instances inthe bipartite-graph representation 520 (e.g. being represented bymultiple RX nodes 522 in the graph). If an RX sector receivestransmissions from multiple TX sectors, then the bipartite-graphrepresentation 520 will include multiple RX nodes representing the RXsector. Multiple instances of the same RX sector 514 in thebipartite-graph representation 520 may be referred to as an “RX TDMclique.” An RX node 522 can have only one TX node 521 from a TX TDMclique connected to it as a desired link and cannot be connected toother TX nodes in the TX TDM clique as interference. An RX node can havemore than one TX node 521 connected to it as interference, but those TXnodes 521 must belong to “non-serving” TX TDM cliques. An RX node 522can be served by only one TX node 521 and cannot receive interferencefrom a TX node 521 serving another RX node 522 in the same RX TDMclique.

The number of desired links in the network may be approximated asNlinks≈NCN+2NDN. NCN represents the number of customer nodes in thenetwork, and NDN represents the number of distribution nodes in thenetwork. Each link 523 has an individual link capacity C_(j), which mayinclude two parts: the desired signal part and the interference partfrom neighboring network nodes. C_(j) may be negatively affected bysurrounding interference links 524. Capacity may be understood to meanthe maximum rate at which the multi-hop wireless network can transmitdata with no interference present. If there is no interference, it maybe thought of as a theoretical limit, and it may be desirable to adjustthe network nodes to attempt to reach this limit. Thus, the goal of theinterference management system may be to increase the capacity of alllinks in the network by reducing the interference as much as possible.This may be referred to as maximizing the sum-capacity C of the network,because C may be the sum of all the individual link capacities C_(j),taking into consideration the negative interference effects.Sum-capacity may be expressed as the following formula:

$C = {{\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{{Nlinks} - 1}\; C_{j}} = {\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{{Nlinks} - 1}\;{{\log\left( {1 + \frac{\left( {w_{n}^{r*}H_{n,n}w_{n}^{t}} \right)^{2}}{{\sum\limits_{k \in {\Theta{(j)}}}\;\left( {w_{n}^{r*}H_{n,k}w_{k}^{t}} \right)^{2}} + N_{0}}} \right)}.}}}$In this formula, Θ(j) is the set of sectors interfering the sector j;w_(n) ^(r), w_(k) ^(t) are the receive and transmit beamforming vectorsfor sectors n and k respectively; and H_(n,k) is the multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO) propagation channel from sector k to sector n.P_(n) ^(s)=∥w_(n) ^(r)*H_(n,n)w_(n) ^(t)∥ is measured during beamforminglink-level acquisition, and P_(n,k) ^(l)=∥w_(n,k) ^(r)*H_(n,k)w_(k)^(f)∥ is measured during interference characterization. Nlinks≈NCN+2NDNis the number of links, as described above.

The complexity actually summing every combination of micro-routes andnano-routes in a multi-hop wireless network is nearly infinite. Thus, itmay be necessary to cast the sum capacity as an inference problem inprobability theory. The sum capacity function resembles the multivariateprobability density function which may be factored into multiple termsof local functions C_(j), each dependent on a subset of variables Θ(j).In this situation, the random variables may be the pairs of TX and RXbeamforming weights for desired links. The values of these pairs of TXand RX beamforming weights may have been determined during initialtraining or beamform acquisition. The local function C_(j) may representthe individual link capacity for a given link on the multi-hop wirelessnetwork and may be expressed as:

$C_{j} = {{\log\left( {1 + \frac{P_{j}^{S}}{{\sum\limits_{k \in {\Theta{(j)}}}\; P_{n,k}^{I}} + N_{0}}} \right)}.}$Cast this way, “inference” is the problem of computing the posteriormarginal distribution of an unknown variable given an observed variable.As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a posteriorprobability distribution (also referred to as a posteriori probabilitydistribution) is the probability distribution of an unknown quantity(e.g. random variable), conditional on the evidence obtained frommeasured data. In probability theory, the marginal distribution of asubset of a collection of random variables is the probabilitydistribution of the variables contained in the subset. Locating themaximum on the marginal distributions of the random variables, thensumming all the maximums, may provide the sum of the maximum marginaldistributions in the subset. Applying these principles to aninterference management system in a multi-hop wireless network, locatingthe maximum of the marginal a posteriori probability distributions forthe pair of TX and RX beamforming weights for each desired link (e.g.random variable), and then summing these maximums, returns the maximumsum-capacity of the multi-hop wireless network. To further elaborate,each pair of TX and RX beamforming weights may be treated as a randomvariable, because the pair of TX and RX beamforming weights may bedifferent values, and the selection of these values may be regarded asrandom (within pre-defined limits, obtained during beamformacquisition). Thus, a probability distribution may be generated of thevalues that each pair of TX and RX beamforming weights may take. Thenthe maximum of each probability distribution may be identified andsummed to determine the sum-capacity of the entire system.

To accomplish the above in light of the iterative interference that willoccur once the beamforming weights are adjusted on one or more networknodes, a factor graph of the probability distributions may need to becreated. A factor graph is a special type of bipartite graph. Verticeson the factor graph are Variable nodes in one set and Function nodes inthe other set. In the context of a multi-hop wireless network, eachVariable node may represent a pair of TX and RX beamforming weights of adesired link (e.g. random variable). The Function node may represent thecapacity equation C_(j) of that desired link (e.g. the local function).Note that in a factor graph, the vertices on the right side of thefactor graph no longer represent receiving network nodes, as they did onthe bipartite-graph representation 520. In the factor graph, values ofboth the transmitting and receiving network nodes are represented by theVariable nodes. The vertices on the other side (e.g. Function nodes)represent the capacity equation C_(j). Nodes exchange their “beliefs”about the beamforming weight values that each pair of TX and RX nodes“believes” is best for that pair. This may be referred to as beliefpropagation. Each pair of TX and RX beamforming weights has a relativelysmall number of beamforming weights that it believes may be best, basedon the beliefs of neighboring pairs of network nodes. Realistically, agiven link will only observe interference from two to four interferencelinks.

Belief propagation works by sending messages along the edges of thefactor graph. Variable node i is associated with a random variable X,which is a given pair of TX and RX beamforming weights corresponding todifferent micro- and nano-routes of the given link (e.g. X_(i)={w_(i)^(r), w_(i) ^(t)}). Due to prior beamforming acquisition, the set of allthe beamforming weights may be reduce to a small subset of micro- andnano-routes, as shown in FIG. 2, discussed above. Thus, X_(i) may bespecific to each sector (e.g. variable node). This reduction in possiblevalues a given pair of TX and RX beamforming weights may take greatlyreduces the complexity of the algorithm to7O(N_(iterations)(N_(micro)(N_(nano))²)^(N) ^(neighbors) ) with theN_(neighbors) exponential term expected to be very small (e.g. 2, 3, or4). Without reducing the problem by applying belief propagationtechniques and marginal distribution probability principles, theexponential term would be the number of links in the entire multi-hopnetwork (e.g. 10,000 links). This, the complexity of the algorithm isgreatly reduced.

In the case of factor graphs with cycles, the process runs iteratively,meaning that a message that is passed from function nodes to variablenodes in iteration t+1 may be derived from messages passed from variablenodes to function nodes in iteration t.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example method 600 for interference management ina multi-hop wireless network. The method 600 may begin at step 610,where an interference map is accessed. The interference map may indicateinterference among network nodes of a multi-hop wireless network,wherein each of the network nodes of the multi-hop wireless networkincludes one or more sectors that each include an array of beamformingantennae. At step 620, the method may generate a factor-graphrepresentation of the multi-hop wireless network, wherein thefactor-graph representation includes a first set of vertices and asecond set of vertices; transmitting (TX) sectors of the network nodesare each represented as a vertex in the first set of vertices; receiving(RX) sectors of the network nodes are each represented as a vertex inthe second set of vertices; vertices in the first set are variablenodes; vertices in the second set are function nodes. At step 630, themethod may apply a belief-propagation algorithm to the factor graph todetermine one or more adjustments to one or more beamforming weights ofone or more sectors of one or more network nodes of the multi-hopwireless network, wherein: for each of one or more of the TX or RXsectors, a beamforming weight of the TX or RX sector is determined by amaximum of a marginal a posteriori probability for each variable of thebeamforming weight; and the adjustments reduce interference among thenetwork nodes of the multi-hop wireless network to increase a sumcapacity of the multi-hop wireless network. Particular embodiments mayrepeat one or more steps of the method of FIG. 6, where appropriate.Although this disclosure describes and illustrates particular steps ofthe method of FIG. 6 as occurring in a particular order, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable steps of the method of FIG. 6 occurring in anysuitable order. Moreover, although this disclosure describes andillustrates an example method for generating and sending tag candidatesto a client system including the particular steps of the method of FIG.6, this disclosure contemplates any suitable method for generating andsending tag candidates to a client system including any suitable steps,which may include all, some, or none of the steps of the method of FIG.6, where appropriate. Furthermore, although this disclosure describesand illustrates particular components, devices, or systems carrying outparticular steps of the method of FIG. 6, this disclosure contemplatesany suitable combination of any suitable components, devices, or systemscarrying out any suitable steps of the method of FIG. 6.

In particular embodiments, a variable of the beamforming weight mayinclude the phase of a signal transmitted by the TX sector or receivedby the RX sector. In a beamforming antenna array, each antenna has itsown signal phase. By varying the signal phases of the elements in alinear antenna array, the main beam of the antenna array may be steered.In an electronically steered array, programmable electronic phaseshifters are used at each antenna in the array. The signal of theantenna array may be steered by programming the required phase shiftvalue for each element. As an example and not by way of limitation, anantenna array comprising eight antennas may have a progressive phaseshift of 0.7π for each antenna. This may cause the central beam likethat of 340 to be steered approximately 45 degrees to the left.

In particular embodiments, the adjustments to the one or morebeamforming weights may include excluding one or more micro-routes onthe multi-hop wireless network. As shown in FIG. 2, transmitting networknode 201 has two micro-route options 210 and 220 to transmit its signalto receiving network node 202. There may exist more than twomicro-routes, but two are discussed here for simplicity reasons.Micro-route 210 may be just as suitable as micro-route 220 intransmitting data to from transmitting network node 201 to receivingnetwork node 202. However, the interference management system maydetermine that one of the micro-routes is unsuitable due to interferencecaused by transmitting data over that micro-route. Thus, it may bedetermined that one micro-route should be excluded from transmittingdata. This may mean that a network node may either receive instructionsor autonomously determine that data may not be transmitted over aparticular micro-route. Thus, the network node may exclude thatmicro-route and its associated beamforming weights from its availablelist of micro-routes and associated beamforming weights. As an exampleand not by way of limitation, the network management system maydetermine that micro-route 210 causes too much interference withneighboring links and should be avoided completely. Thus, transmittingnetwork node 201 may be directed or may autonomously determine thatmicro-route 210 or nano-routes 211 will be excluded from transmitting orreceiving data. This may increase the efficiency with which transmittingnetwork node 201 determines or identifies its appropriate beamformingweights. Similarly, receiving node 202 may be directed or mayautonomously determine that micro-route 210 or nano-routes 212 will beexcluded from receiving or transmitting data. This may increase theefficiency with which transmitting network node 201 determines oridentifies its appropriate beamforming weights. Thus, in particularembodiments, a plurality of network nodes of a multi-hop wirelessnetwork may be identified, wherein each of the network nodes of themulti-hop wireless network includes one or more arrays of beamformingantennae. Then a plurality of micro-routes on the multi-hop wirelessnetwork may be identified, wherein each micro-route includes a signalpath from a first array of beamforming antennae on a first network nodeto a second array of beamforming antennae on a second network node.Further, at least one of the plurality of micro-routes may be excluded,the exclusion being based on an optimization scheme for the multi-hopwireless network.

In particular embodiments, the method may additionally includeidentifying one or more golden links, wherein the network nodesconnecting the golden links are configured to maximize a signal strengthon the golden links. A golden link may be understood to mean a link thatis more critical to the functioning of the multi-hop wireless networkthan other links in the multi-hop wireless network. As an example andnot by way of limitation, links closer to a Point of Presence (PoP)network node may be determined to be vital to the functionality of themulti-hop network. Therefore, it may be determined that those linksshould adjust their beamforming weights to maximize their link capacitywithout regard to the interference effects those beamforming weightshave on neighboring links. One or more links in the multi-hop networkmay be assigned a priority weight. Priority weight may be understood tomean a scalar that represents the importance of a particular link. As anexample and not by way of limitation, links close to the PoP node mayreceive a priority weight that is higher than the priority weight ofother links in the multi-hop wireless network. These links with a higherpriority weight may take precedence over links with a lower priorityweight and may be configured to maintain a high link capacity ratherthan sacrificing some link capacity to reduce interference withneighboring network nodes. Thus, in particular embodiments, the methodmay additionally include assigning to one or more subsets of networknodes one or more priority weights, wherein nodes assigned higherpriority weight are configured to maximize a signal strength of awireless connection between the nodes assigned higher priority weight.

In particular embodiments, the signals between network nodes in themulti-hop wireless network may operate according to a time divisionmultiplex scheme. Under such a scheme, signals that would normallyinterfere with each other if sent simultaneously are scheduled to besent at different times. This may be accomplished by schedulingparticular network nodes to transmit and receive at different slots in atime frame comprising two or more time slots. Time division multiplexingmay be understood to be a method of transmitting and receivingindependent signals over a common signal path. In this case, that signalpath may be understood to mean the same frequency (e.g., 60 GHz). Timedivision multiplexing may allow more network nodes to select the bestbeamforming weights for their own link capacity, as interfering linksmay be scheduled to transmit at different times. If time divisionmultiplexing is used as a way to avoid interference, slot occupancy maybe orthogonalized among links so that links that are prone tointerference do not transmit at the same time.

To accomplish the above goals, it may be assumed that a total ofN_(slots) slots and N_(links) links are available as degrees of freedom.Thus the total capacity C of the system may be expressed as:

$C = {\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{N_{links} - 1}{\sum\limits_{s = 0}^{N_{slots} - 1}\;{\log\left( {1 + \frac{\left( {w_{n,s}^{r*}H_{n,n}w_{n,s}^{t}} \right)^{2}}{{\sum\limits_{k \in {\Theta{(j)}}}\;\left( {w_{n,s}^{r*}H_{n,k}w_{k,s}^{t}} \right)^{2}} + N_{0}}} \right)}}}$In the formula above, pairs of receiving and transmitting beamformingweights X_(i)={w_(i) ^(r),w_(i) ^(t)} are selected from a set of χ_(i)^(slot) constructed as the Kronecker product of

{w_(greedy, i)^(r), w_(greedy, i)^(t)},with the set β consisting of all realizations of the binary index vector(also referred to as the slot-by-slot on/off pattern) of lengthN_(slots).

$\beta = \left\{ {\underset{\underset{N_{slots}}{︸}}{00\mspace{11mu}\ldots\mspace{11mu} 01},{00\mspace{11mu}\ldots\mspace{11mu} 10},\ldots\mspace{11mu},{11\mspace{11mu}\ldots\mspace{11mu} 11}} \right\}$The number of elements in the set χ_(i) ^(slot) is |χ_(i) ^(slot)|=2^(N)^(slots) −1.

$\chi_{i}^{slot} = {{\left\{ {w_{{greedy},i}^{r},w_{{greedy},i}^{t}} \right\} \otimes \beta} = \begin{Bmatrix}{{00\mspace{11mu}\ldots\mspace{11mu} 0\left\{ {w_{{greedy},i}^{r},w_{{greedy},i}^{t}} \right\}},} \\{{00\mspace{11mu}\ldots\mspace{11mu}\left\{ {w_{{greedy},i}^{r},w_{{greedy},i}^{t}} \right\} 0},\ldots\mspace{11mu},} \\\underset{\underset{N_{slot}}{︸}}{\left\{ {w_{{greedy},i}^{r},w_{{greedy},i}^{t}} \right\}\left\{ {w_{{greedy},i}^{r},w_{{greedy},i}^{t}} \right\}\mspace{11mu}\ldots\mspace{11mu}\left\{ {w_{{greedy},i}^{r},w_{{greedy},i}^{t}} \right\}\left\{ {w_{{greedy},i}^{r},w_{{greedy},i}^{t}} \right\}}\end{Bmatrix}}$The complexity for slot-only exclusions may be ˜O(N_(iterations)(2^(N)^(slots) −1)^(N) ^(neighbors) ), or in this case ˜3(N_(iterations)(2^(N)^(slots) −1)^(N) ^(neighbors) ).

To optimize by beamforming and scheduling exclusions together, the setχ_(i) ^(join) is formed by the Kronecker product of the original χ_(i)and the set β consisting of all realizations of the binary index vectorof length χ_(i) ^(join)=χ_(i)⊗β. The number of elements in the set χ_(i)^(join) is |χ_(i) ^(slot)|=N_(micro)(N_(nano))²(2^(N) ^(slots) −1). Thecomplexity for joint beamforming optimization and scheduling exclusionsmay be ˜O(N_(iterations)(N_(micro)(N_(nano))²(2^(N) ^(slots) −1))^(N)^(neighbors) ).

As previously discussed, the above approach can be modified fornon-equal-link-capacity optimization (e.g. swaying link capacity towardgolden links) by giving more weight to links around PoPs. This can bedone by assigning the non-equal weights G(a) in factor-nodebelief-message generation in the Belief Propagation algorithm, accordingto the following formula:

${{{\overset{\_}{M}}_{a\rightarrow i}\left( x_{i} \right)} = {\frac{1}{Z_{a\rightarrow i}}{\sum\limits_{X_{a}\backslash x_{i}}\;{e^{{G{(a)}}{C_{a}{(X_{a})}}}{\prod\limits_{j \in {{N{(a)}}\backslash i}}\;{M_{j\rightarrow a}\left( x_{j} \right)}}}}}},{Z_{a\rightarrow i} = {1/{\sum\limits_{x_{i}}\;{{\overset{\_}{M}}_{a\rightarrow i}\left( x_{i} \right)}}}}$Links around PoPs can be excluded from trade-off, e.g., golden links canstick to their greedily selected beamforming weights while other linkscooperate to maximize sum capacity.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example computer system 700. In particularembodiments, one or more computer systems 700 perform one or more stepsof one or more methods described or illustrated herein. In particularembodiments, one or more computer systems 700 provide functionalitydescribed or illustrated herein. In particular embodiments, softwarerunning on one or more computer systems 700 performs one or more stepsof one or more methods described or illustrated herein or providesfunctionality described or illustrated herein. Particular embodimentsinclude one or more portions of one or more computer systems 700.Herein, reference to a computer system may encompass a computing device,and vice versa, where appropriate. Moreover, reference to a computersystem may encompass one or more computer systems, where appropriate.

This disclosure contemplates any suitable number of computer systems700. This disclosure contemplates computer system 700 taking anysuitable physical form. As example and not by way of limitation,computer system 700 may be an embedded computer system, a system-on-chip(SOC), a single-board computer system (SBC) (such as, for example, acomputer-on-module (COM) or system-on-module (SOM)), a desktop computersystem, a laptop or notebook computer system, an interactive kiosk, amainframe, a mesh of computer systems, a mobile telephone, a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a server, a tablet computer system, anaugmented/virtual reality device, or a combination of two or more ofthese. Where appropriate, computer system 700 may include one or morecomputer systems 700; be unitary or distributed; span multiplelocations; span multiple machines; span multiple data centers; or residein a cloud, which may include one or more cloud components in one ormore networks. Where appropriate, one or more computer systems 700 mayperform without substantial spatial or temporal limitation one or moresteps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein. As anexample and not by way of limitation, one or more computer systems 700may perform in real time or in batch mode one or more steps of one ormore methods described or illustrated herein. One or more computersystems 700 may perform at different times or at different locations oneor more steps of one or more methods described or illustrated herein,where appropriate.

In particular embodiments, computer system 700 includes a processor 702,memory 704, storage 706, an input/output (I/O) interface 708, acommunication interface 710, and a bus 712. Although this disclosuredescribes and illustrates a particular computer system having aparticular number of particular components in a particular arrangement,this disclosure contemplates any suitable computer system having anysuitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement.

In particular embodiments, processor 702 includes hardware for executinginstructions, such as those making up a computer program. As an exampleand not by way of limitation, to execute instructions, processor 702 mayretrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, aninternal cache, memory 704, or storage 706; decode and execute them; andthen write one or more results to an internal register, an internalcache, memory 704, or storage 706. In particular embodiments, processor702 may include one or more internal caches for data, instructions, oraddresses. This disclosure contemplates processor 702 including anysuitable number of any suitable internal caches, where appropriate. Asan example and not by way of limitation, processor 702 may include oneor more instruction caches, one or more data caches, and one or moretranslation lookaside buffers (TLBs). Instructions in the instructioncaches may be copies of instructions in memory 704 or storage 706, andthe instruction caches may speed up retrieval of those instructions byprocessor 702. Data in the data caches may be copies of data in memory704 or storage 706 for instructions executing at processor 702 tooperate on; the results of previous instructions executed at processor702 for access by subsequent instructions executing at processor 702 orfor writing to memory 704 or storage 706; or other suitable data. Thedata caches may speed up read or write operations by processor 702. TheTLBs may speed up virtual-address translation for processor 702. Inparticular embodiments, processor 702 may include one or more internalregisters for data, instructions, or addresses. This disclosurecontemplates processor 702 including any suitable number of any suitableinternal registers, where appropriate. Where appropriate, processor 702may include one or more arithmetic logic units (ALUs); be a multi-coreprocessor; or include one or more processors 702. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular processor, thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable processor.

In particular embodiments, memory 704 includes main memory for storinginstructions for processor 702 to execute or data for processor 702 tooperate on. As an example and not by way of limitation, computer system700 may load instructions from storage 706 or another source (such as,for example, another computer system 700) to memory 704. Processor 702may then load the instructions from memory 704 to an internal registeror internal cache. To execute the instructions, processor 702 mayretrieve the instructions from the internal register or internal cacheand decode them. During or after execution of the instructions,processor 702 may write one or more results (which may be intermediateor final results) to the internal register or internal cache. Processor702 may then write one or more of those results to memory 704. Inparticular embodiments, processor 702 executes only instructions in oneor more internal registers or internal caches or in memory 704 (asopposed to storage 706 or elsewhere) and operates only on data in one ormore internal registers or internal caches or in memory 704 (as opposedto storage 706 or elsewhere). One or more memory buses (which may eachinclude an address bus and a data bus) may couple processor 702 tomemory 704. Bus 712 may include one or more memory buses, as describedbelow. In particular embodiments, one or more memory management units(MMUs) reside between processor 702 and memory 704 and facilitateaccesses to memory 704 requested by processor 702. In particularembodiments, memory 704 includes random access memory (RAM). This RAMmay be volatile memory, where appropriate Where appropriate, this RAMmay be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). Moreover, whereappropriate, this RAM may be single-ported or multi-ported RAM. Thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable RAM. Memory 704 may include one ormore memories 704, where appropriate. Although this disclosure describesand illustrates particular memory, this disclosure contemplates anysuitable memory.

In particular embodiments, storage 706 includes mass storage for data orinstructions. As an example and not by way of limitation, storage 706may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive, flash memory,an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of these. Storage706 may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, whereappropriate. Storage 706 may be internal or external to computer system700, where appropriate. In particular embodiments, storage 706 isnon-volatile, solid-state memory. In particular embodiments, storage 706includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may bemask-programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM),electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM),or flash memory or a combination of two or more of these. Thisdisclosure contemplates mass storage 706 taking any suitable physicalform. Storage 706 may include one or more storage control unitsfacilitating communication between processor 702 and storage 706, whereappropriate. Where appropriate, storage 706 may include one or morestorages 706. Although this disclosure describes and illustratesparticular storage, this disclosure contemplates any suitable storage.

In particular embodiments, I/O interface 708 includes hardware,software, or both, providing one or more interfaces for communicationbetween computer system 700 and one or more I/O devices. Computer system700 may include one or more of these I/O devices, where appropriate. Oneor more of these I/O devices may enable communication between a personand computer system 700. As an example and not by way of limitation, anI/O device may include a keyboard, keypad, microphone, monitor, mouse,printer, scanner, speaker, still camera, stylus, tablet, touch screen,trackball, video camera, another suitable I/O device or a combination oftwo or more of these. An I/O device may include one or more sensors.This disclosure contemplates any suitable I/O devices and any suitableI/O interfaces 708 for them. Where appropriate, I/O interface 708 mayinclude one or more device or software drivers enabling processor 702 todrive one or more of these I/O devices. I/O interface 708 may includeone or more I/O interfaces 708, where appropriate. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular I/O interface, thisdisclosure contemplates any suitable I/O interface.

In particular embodiments, communication interface 710 includeshardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces forcommunication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) betweencomputer system 700 and one or more other computer systems 700 or one ormore networks. As an example and not by way of limitation, communicationinterface 710 may include a network interface controller (NIC) ornetwork adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-basednetwork or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicatingwith a wireless network, such as a WI-FI network. This disclosurecontemplates any suitable network and any suitable communicationinterface 710 for it. As an example and not by way of limitation,computer system 700 may communicate with an ad hoc network, a personalarea network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or one or more portions of theInternet or a combination of two or more of these. One or more portionsof one or more of these networks may be wired or wireless. As anexample, computer system 700 may communicate with a wireless PAN (WPAN)(such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WI-MAXnetwork, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM) network), or other suitablewireless network or a combination of two or more of these. Computersystem 700 may include any suitable communication interface 710 for anyof these networks, where appropriate. Communication interface 710 mayinclude one or more communication interfaces 710, where appropriate.Although this disclosure describes and illustrates a particularcommunication interface, this disclosure contemplates any suitablecommunication interface.

In particular embodiments, bus 712 includes hardware, software, or bothcoupling components of computer system 700 to each other. As an exampleand not by way of limitation, bus 712 may include an AcceleratedGraphics Port (AGP) or other graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry StandardArchitecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT)interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBANDinterconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro ChannelArchitecture (MCA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, aPCI-Express (PCIe) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA)bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, oranother suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these. Bus 712may include one or more buses 712, where appropriate. Although thisdisclosure describes and illustrates a particular bus, this disclosurecontemplates any suitable bus or interconnect.

Herein, a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium or media mayinclude one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits(ICs) (such, as for example, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) orapplication-specific ICs (ASICs)), hard disk drives (HDDs), hybrid harddrives (HHDs), optical discs, optical disc drives (ODDs),magneto-optical discs, magneto-optical drives, floppy diskettes, floppydisk drives (FDDs), magnetic tapes, solid-state drives (SSDs),RAM-drives, SECURE DIGITAL cards or drives, any other suitablecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media, or any suitablecombination of two or more of these, where appropriate. Acomputer-readable non-transitory storage medium may be volatile,non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, whereappropriate.

Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicatedotherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B”means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicatedotherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unlessexpressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,”unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.

The scope of this disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions,variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodimentsdescribed or illustrated herein that a person having ordinary skill inthe art would comprehend. The scope of this disclosure is not limited tothe example embodiments described or illustrated herein. Moreover,although this disclosure describes and illustrates respectiveembodiments herein as including particular components, elements,feature, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments mayinclude any combination or permutation of any of the components,elements, features, functions, operations, or steps described orillustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in theart would comprehend. Furthermore, reference in the appended claims toan apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system beingadapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operableto, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses thatapparatus, system, component, whether or not it or that particularfunction is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as thatapparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable,configured, enabled, operable, or operative. Additionally, although thisdisclosure describes or illustrates particular embodiments as providingparticular advantages, particular embodiments may provide none, some, orall of these advantages.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising, by aninterference-management system of a multi-hop wireless network:accessing an interference map indicating interference among networknodes of the multi-hop wireless network, wherein each of the networknodes of the multi-hop wireless network comprises one or more sectorsthat each comprise an array of beamforming antennae; identifying one ormore links between network nodes of the multi-hop wireless network,wherein each link is associated with a transmitting (TX) beamformingweight variable and a receiving (RX) beamforming weight variable;generating a factor-graph representation of the multi-hop wirelessnetwork, wherein the factor-graph representation comprises a first setof vertices corresponding to a second set of vertices, each vertex pairbeing associated with an identified link, and wherein, for each vertexpair, the vertex in the first set is a variable node representing thepair of beamforming weight variables associated with the identified linkand each vertex in the second set is a function node representing acapacity equation associated with the identified link; and determining,for at least a first identified link, one or more adjustments to one ormore beamforming weights associated with the first identified link toreduce interference among the network nodes of the multi-hop wirelessnetwork, wherein the one or more adjustments are determined based atleast in part on one or more messages passed from a first variable noderepresenting the pair of beamforming weight variables associated withthe first identified link to a first function node representing acapacity equation associated with the first identified link, and whereinthe one or more messages are derived at least in part based on one ormore messages previously passed from the first variable node to thefirst function node.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each variablenode further represents a signal phase shift variable associated withthe identified link.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein each variablenode further represents a time division multiplexing variable associatedwith the identified link.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein one or moreof the identified links are golden links.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein the one or more golden links are identified based on a proximityto a vital network node.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the vitalnetwork node connects the multi-hop wireless network to a backbonenetwork.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein a set of possible values foreach variable node is identified based on the one or more previouslypassed messages.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the set of possiblevalues for each variable node corresponds to a set of micro-routes andnano-routes on the multi-hop wireless network.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the amount of possible values for each variable node is two,three, or four.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or moreadjustments to the one or more beamforming weights associated with thefirst identified link to reduce interference among the network nodes ofthe multi-hop wireless network are determined by applying abelief-propagation algorithm to a portion of the factor-graphrepresentation associated with at least the first identified link. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein the determined adjustments optimize asum-capacity of the multi-hop wireless network.
 12. The method of claim10, wherein the determined adjustments optimize a sum-capacity of aportion of the multi-hop wireless network associated with the portion ofthe factor-graph representation.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein thedetermined adjustments comprise adjusting a signal phase shift of theidentified link.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the determinedadjustments comprise a time division multiplexing scheme.
 15. The methodof claim 10, wherein the determined adjustments exclude one or moremicro-routes on the multi-hop wireless network.
 16. The method of claim10, further comprising: sending at least one of the determinedadjustments to at least one of the network nodes of the multi-hopwireless network.
 17. A system comprising: one or more processors; and amemory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable bythe processors, the processors operable when executing the instructionsto: access an interference map indicating interference among networknodes of the multi-hop wireless network, wherein each of the networknodes of the multi-hop wireless network comprises one or more sectorsthat each comprise an array of beamforming antennae; identify one ormore links between network nodes of the multi-hop wireless network,wherein each link is associated with a transmitting (TX) beamformingweight variable and a receiving (RX) beamforming weight variable;generate a factor-graph representation of the multi-hop wirelessnetwork, wherein the factor-graph representation comprises a first setof vertices corresponding to a second set of vertices, each vertex pairbeing associated with an identified link, and wherein, for each vertexpair, the vertex in the first set is a variable node representing thepair of beamforming weight variables associated with the identified linkand each vertex in the second set is a function node representing acapacity equation associated with the identified link; and determine,for at least a first identified link, one or more adjustments to one ormore beamforming weights associated with the first identified link toreduce interference among the network nodes of the multi-hop wirelessnetwork, wherein the one or more adjustments are determined based atleast in part on one or more messages passed from a first variable noderepresenting the pair of beamforming weight variables associated withthe first identified link to a first function node representing acapacity equation associated with the first identified link, and whereinthe one or more messages are derived at least in part based on one ormore messages previously passed from the first variable node to thefirst function node.
 18. One or more computer-readable non-transitorystorage media embodying software that is operable when executed to:access an interference map indicating interference among network nodesof the multi-hop wireless network, wherein each of the network nodes ofthe multi-hop wireless network comprises one or more sectors that eachcomprise an array of beamforming antennae; identify one or more linksbetween network nodes of the multi-hop wireless network, wherein eachlink is associated with a transmitting (TX) beamforming weight variableand a receiving (RX) beamforming weight variable; generate afactor-graph representation of the multi-hop wireless network, whereinthe factor-graph representation comprises a first set of verticescorresponding to a second set of vertices, each vertex pair beingassociated with an identified link, and wherein, for each vertex pair,the vertex in the first set is a variable node representing the pair ofbeamforming weight variables associated with the identified link andeach vertex in the second set is a function node representing a capacityequation associated with the identified link; and determine, for atleast a first identified link, one or more adjustments to one or morebeamforming weights associated with the first identified link to reduceinterference among the network nodes of the multi-hop wireless network,wherein the one or more adjustments are determined based at least inpart on one or more messages passed from a first variable noderepresenting the pair of beamforming weight variables associated withthe first identified link to a first function node representing acapacity equation associated with the first identified link, and whereinthe one or more messages are derived at least in part based on one ormore messages previously passed from the first variable node to thefirst function node.